First Las Vegas GP. F1 pit-lane in the night. Image Credit: Shutterstock/cristiano barni
Las Vegas has never been shy about making a spectacle of itself. But even by Sin City's standards, Formula 1 has moved remarkably fast from headline attraction to museum exhibit.
Three years after race cars first roared down the Las Vegas Strip, a sign from the inaugural 2023 Las Vegas Grand Prix is heading to The Neon Museum to join its collection of historic neon signs.
The museum will unveil and illuminate the sign on October 26 as the finale of Duck Duck Shed, its annual four-day festival celebrating Las Vegas history, architecture and design.
Guests can get an up-close look at a Formula 1 show car and raise a complimentary toast courtesy of Heineken before the evening's main event.
The addition comes shortly after Formula 1 extended its agreement to race in Las Vegas through 2037, securing the Grand Prix's future in the city for another decade.
A New Addition to Las Vegas History
The Neon Museum has spent decades rescuing signs from demolished hotels, shuttered casinos and long-forgotten entertainment venues. Its outdoor Neon Boneyard displays the elaborate marquees that once beckoned visitors along the Las Vegas Strip.
“Every piece in our collection tells a story about Las Vegas, and this one represents an exciting chapter in its evolution,” said Aaron Berger, CEO and executive director of The Neon Museum.
Even the museum's entrance has a past worth preserving. Its visitors' center occupies the shell-shaped lobby of the former La Concha Motel, designed by pioneering architect Paul Revere Williams in 1961. The building was saved from demolition and relocated to the museum.
Duck Duck Shed Celebrates the Las Vegas Few Tourists See
Duck Duck Shed explores the personalities, architecture and entertainment traditions that made Las Vegas famous, including some that tourists rarely encounter.
This year's lineup includes a behind-the-scenes look at Cirque du Soleil's KÀ, an examination of Elvis Presley's stage wardrobe and conversations with former Las Vegas showgirls. Visitors can also take a guided walking tour of downtown casinos and learn about the craftsmanship behind the city's famous neon signs.
Formula 1 Returns to Las Vegas in November
The sign ceremony also begins the countdown to the 2026 Las Vegas Grand Prix, scheduled for November 19–21. The nighttime race has become one of the most distinctive events on the Formula 1 calendar.
The 50-lap race takes drivers around a 3.8-mile street circuit that includes Las Vegas Boulevard, Koval Lane and Harmon Avenue. Cars can exceed 215 mph as they race past some of the city's best-known hotels and casinos.
You don't need a Formula 1 superlicence to take a lap around part of the Las Vegas circuit. At the 39-acre Grand Prix Plaza, F1 DRIVE lets fans race electric go-karts along a section of the actual Strip Circuit.
The complex also houses F1 X, a 20,000-square-foot interactive exhibition featuring historic race cars, memorabilia, a virtual pit-stop challenge and a 4D experience. At F1 HUB, visitors can test their skills in racing simulators, shop for official team merchandise or grab a drink at the F1-themed lounge.
Grand Prix Plaza closed for the season on October 4 to prepare for the upcoming race and is scheduled to reopen in January 2027.
How to Attend the Formula 1 Sign Illumination
The unveiling takes place at The Neon Museum on Monday, October 26, 2026, from 6 to 7 p.m.
Tickets cost $35 for adults or $30 for Nevada residents, seniors 65 and older, and veterans. Children ages 7–17 pay $17.50, while those six and younger and museum members attend free.
Reservations can be made through The Neon Museum, while the full festival schedule is available at Duck Duck Shed.
Las Vegas has spent decades replacing yesterday’s attractions with something bigger and brighter. This time, one of its newest spectacles is already being saved for posterity.